INVITATION AND REPLIES -CLASS 12
♦ Invitation
To invite someone for an occasion, we use the
written form Invitation.
Invitations are generally printed cards through
which we invite our guests on some auspicious
occasions like wedding, birthday, wedding
anniversary, house warming, the inauguration of a
shop/factory, etc.
♦ Invitations are of two types:
(a) Formal and
(b) Informal.
These can be printed on cards or can be drafted in
the form of letters.
♦ Main Characteristics:
An invitation is a complete information. It answers
the questions: who, whom, when, where, what
time and for what. The important components of
an invitation, therefore, are:
Occasion
Name(s) of the invitee(s)
Name(s) of the host(s)
Date, time and venue.
Name(s) of the chief guest or special invitees, in
case of an official invitation.
♦ Format of Formal Invitations:
In case of formal invitations, each of the following
is written in a separate line with fonts of varying
sizes.
Names of the hosts
Name of the invitee (in case of a formal letter of
invitation)
Formal phrase of invitation, for example:
Request the pleasure your benign
presence/company Seek your auspicious
presence
Solicit your gracious presence on the auspicious
occasion
Date, time and venue of the event
Occasion/ reason of the invitation.
♦ Characteristics of Formal Invitations:
1. Meant for a lot of invitees:
These are written in the third person
In case a VIP is invited as the chief guest, the
name of the VIP must appear prominently.
Name of the invitee is not to be included. The
addressee’s address is to be written only on the
envelope.
Simple present tense is to be used.
The date of writing is not to be given.
There is no signature of the host.
The abbreviation RSVP (French: repondez silvers
plait) i.e. ‘Please reply’ is written below on the
left side with name(s), address and phone
number of the host(s).
Put the invitation into a box.
Do not exceed 50 words.
2. Meant for an individual (a formal letter of
invitation)
Include the name of the invitee.
These are to be written on run-on lines. The
sentence is not broken into different
words/phrases.
Other details are similar to the mass-scale
invitations.
♦ Writing Informal Invitations:
Informal
Written in a letter form, in an informal format.
Such letters are very persuasive in nature.
Written in the first person.
Salutation is ‘dear + name’.
Complimentary close ‘Yours sincerely’.
Date of writing the invitation is given.
Sender’s address appears on the left-hand side.
Various tenses used to suit the sense.
♦ Replies
Replies Accepting or Declining
Formal Follow a set formula:
formal words: ‘kind invitation’, ‘great pleasure’,
‘regret’, etc.
Use third person (‘they’) instead of first person
(T, ‘We’)
Address of the writer and the date to be written.
♦ Informal – Accepting or Declining
Like an ordinary letter
Do not use any formal expressions, but use
informal words and expressions
Use first person (‘I’, ‘We’).
Question 1.
As Secretary of the Literary Club of St. Anne’s
School, Ahmedabad, draft a formal invitation in
not more than 50 words for the inauguration of
the club in your school.
St. Anne’s School
Ahmedabad
We cordially invite all staff, students and
parents for the inauguration of the Literary
Club of the School on 29th July between
8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. within the school
premises. Well, known novelist, Mr Sandeep
Kumar will be our Chief Guest. You all are
also requested to join us in the auditorium
for tea and snacks after the inauguration
ceremony.
Secretary
Question 2.
The literary club of your school is putting up the
play ‘Waiting for Godot’. As secretary of the club,
draft an invitation inviting the famous writer
Sudeesh Gupta to be the guest of honour at the
function. Write the invitation in not more than 50
words. You are Govind/Gauri.
Answer:
ABC School
Shastri Nagar
Mumbai
February 20, 20xx
Mr. Sudesh Gupta
XYZ Lane
PQR Colony
Mumbai
Dear SirSubject: Invitation as Chief Guest
The Literary club of our school is putting up
the play ‘Waiting for Godot’ on 17th
January, 20xx in our school auditorium from
9-10 am. On behalf of our club, I would like
to extend a cordial invitation to you to be
the guest of honour at the function. It would
be our privilege if you consent to grace this
occasion with your esteemed [Link]
Secretary (Literary Club)
Question 3.
As the principal of a reputed college, you have
been invited to inaugurate a Book Exhibition in
your neighbourhood. Draft a reply to the
invitation in not more than 50 words, expressing
your inability to attend the function. You are
Tarun/Tanvi.
Answer:
Reply To Invitation:
The Principal
ABC College
March 25th, 20xx
Subject: Inability to accept the Invitation Sir
I would like to express my gratitude to the
Civil Lines Book Club for inviting me to
inaugurate the first edition of the Civil Club
Book Exhibition. But I regret my inability to
attend the function due to a prior
commitment. I have to attend a meeting
with the governing body of our college on
the same day for which the inauguration is
scheduled.
Yours faithfully
Tanvi
Principal
Question 4.
You have received an invitation to be the judge for
a literary competition in St. Ann’s School. Send a
reply in not more than 50 words, confirming your
acceptance. You are Mohan/Mohini.
Answer:
Confirming Acceptance:
16, XYZ Lane
ABC Nagar,
Chennai
St. Ann’s School
TVS Nagar
Chennai
Subject: Acceptance of invitation for judging
the literary competition.
Sir,
I would like to express my gratitude to St.
Ann’s School for inviting me to be the judge
for a literary competition in your school. I
confirm my acceptance for the same and will
make sure that I am present there at the
scheduled date and time.
Yours sincerely
Mohini
Question 5.
Sunrise Global School, Agra is going to organize a
one-act play competition in the school auditorium.
You have decided to invite noted stage artiste,
Nalini to grace the occasion. Draft a formal
invitation for her in about 50 words. You are
Karuna/Karan, Cultural Secretary.
The Principal, Staff And Teachers
Of
Sunrise Public School
take pleasure in inviting
noted stage artist
MS. NALINI
to grace the one-act play competition
in the School Auditorium
on Tuesday, 1st April, 20xx
From 8:30 am to 11:00 am RSVP
Awaiting a favourable response from your
end.
RSVP
Karuna, Cultural Secretary
987xxxxx00
Question 6.
On 30th November your school is going to hold its
annual sports day. You want Mr. Dhanraj Pillai, a
noted hockey player to give away the prizes to the
budding sportspersons of the school. Write a
formal invitation in about 50 words requesting
him to grace the occasion. You are Karun^/Karan,
Sports Secretary, Sunrise Global School, Agra.
nswer:
Sunrise Global School
takes pleasure in inviting
Noted Hockey Player
MR, DHANRAJ PILLAI
to grace the occasion of its
Annual Sports Day
and to give away prizes to our budding
sportspersons
on 30th November, 20xx
From 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Awaiting a favourable response from your
end.
Koruna
Sports Secretary
Question 7.
Your friend, P.V. Sathish, has invited you to attend
the wedding of his sister, Jaya. You find that you
have an important paper of pre-board
examination on the day of the wedding. Thus you
cannot attend the event. Write in about 50 words
a formal reply to the invitation expressing your
regret. You are PuneeV Puneeta Vij, M 114, Fort
Road, Chennai.
Answer:
15th January, 20xx
Thank you P.V. Sathish for your kind
invitation to the wedding of your sister, Jaya
on 23rd January, 20xx. I regret my inability
to attend as I have an important pre-board
examination on the day of the wedding.
Wishing the newly wedded couple a very
happy married life. Best wishes Puneet
M-114, Fort Road, Chennai
